The Skitter Leaf (ハンボ?) is an enemy found in Pikmin 2 and Pikmin 3 that resembles a leaf. These creatures remain camouflaged on the ground until approached by leaders, at which time they attempt to flee with a cricket-like chirp. They are somewhat rare, usually located in very fresh places, such as near or in water or foliage, but they are not worth defeating or recovering. This is because the leaf they leave upon death, while only requiring one Pikmin to carry, yields only a single Pikmin seed or one Poko.

The Skitter Leaf, when it is hiding, looks like a small leaf on the ground, making it seem like it's part of the scenery. When approached, however, it will leap up, revealing feet with a similar pattern to the leaf on its back, and bulgy red eyes. What the stem would be on a leaf is actually the Skitter Leaf's mouth, and due to its small, tube-like appearance, one can conclude that the Skitter Leaf mainly feeds on plant juices. The main "leaf" acts as a cape, which the Skitter Leaf uses to fend itself from predation by flipping in the air and whipping it around. Upon flipping, the creature will also reveal a rounded, yellow abdomen.

Notes

Olimar's notes

“

The skitter leaf is a relative of the pond skater that shed its wings and adapted to life on the ground. With no residual traits of its airborne past, the skitter leaf can neither fly nor skit across the surface of the water. The wings have since evolved into the leaflike structure on its back, which serves to hide the skitter leaf through mimicry. It appears quite effective, as few predators can see through this clever disguise.

”

Louie's notes

“

The superb amalgamation of juicy meat and leafy greens ensures that the skitter leaf will be the new spinach!

”

The following article or section contains guides.The strategies presented may not be the only ones or the best ones.

They look like leaves, but they're critters. You can swarm Skitter Leafs or hit them with air attacks and defeat them with ease. In one Challenge-mode arena, you'll defeat Skitter Leafs to earn point-producing treasure.

The Skitter Leaf is a harmless creature that uses its leaf-shaped body to blend into the environment. When threatened, a Skitter Leaf jumps out of hiding and attempts to flee from its attackers. You can simply ignore these enemies, but they can prove useful when Pikmin cultivation is a priority. To defeat a Skitter Leaf, simply toss a single Pikmin onto its back.

Swarm it with Pikmin, or toss one directly onto its back; Purple Pikmin work especially well for the latter method, as they will home in on the Skitter Leaf. It has low vitality and can also be easily defeated by leaders. Leaders can be harmed by it, and it will shake any attacking Pikmin off when given the chance, which usually knocks off their flowers or buds. This enemy cannot be petrified when it hides as a leaf, but it can when it is up and active.

The creature is much harder to defeat with leaders and reacts quicker to assaults, but remains easy to defeat with one shot on the back. Winged Pikmin are the only Pikmin somewhat ineffective against it, unless they are tossed directly onto its back while resting. The creature can no longer remove flowers or buds from Pikmin.

The creature being called a leaf is a clear reference to its leaf shape allowing it to blend with the environment. In Japan, its name is ハンボ?. Its scientific name is Rus pseudoarbicans, which has a completely unknown meaning, besides the Greek word "pseudo" in it, which means "fake", likely alluding at how it is a fake leaf. Internally, its name in Pikmin 2 is sokkuri, which is an onomatopoeia for "looks like", once more referring to how it mimics a leaf. Its internal name in the next game is hambo, which is the same as its Japanese name when Romanized, but with an 'm' instead of an 'n'.